A Thousand Ships cover art

A Thousand Ships

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Thousand Ships

By: Natalie Haynes
Narrated by: Natalie Haynes
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020

One of the Guardian's and TLS's 'Best Books of 2019'

In A Thousand Ships, broadcaster and classicist Natalie Haynes retells the story of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective, for fans of Madeline Miller and Pat Barker.

This was never the story of one woman, or two. It was the story of them all....

In the middle of the night, a woman wakes to find her beloved city engulfed in flames. Ten seemingly endless years of conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans are over. Troy has fallen.

From the Trojan women whose fates now lie in the hands of the Greeks, to the Amazon princess who fought Achilles on their behalf, to Penelope awaiting the return of Odysseus, to the three goddesses whose feud started it all, these are the stories of the women embroiled in the legendary war.

Powerfully told from an all-female perspective, in A Thousand Ships Natalie Haynes puts the women, girls and goddesses at the centre of the story.

©Natalie Haynes 2019 (P)2019 Macmillan Digital Audio
Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Ancient Greece Ancient History War

Critic Reviews

"A gripping feminist masterpiece." (Deborah Frances-White)

What listeners say about A Thousand Ships

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written

Could not stop listening to this book. It is beautifully written and surprisingly witty in some parts. Natalie's narration of the book is so easy to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Delightful Modern Relighting of the Ancient Myths

Haynes breathes a fresh new voice into these vital ancient myths renewing their power for a modern audience. Her wit brings a critical spark to material left tinder dry by centuries in reverential cloisters and returns it to its rightful place as a blaze of glory warming our hearts and enlightening our minds.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To be read by ALL WOMEN!

Natalie Haynes has brought me with her and revealed so much about the classic texts, women in literature , and women in war. I am about to reread this inspiring epic, having just this minute finished it...as I am already longing for these inspiring women, and wish to cement much of my learning into my memory. From a woman of Ithacan and Spartan descent, I thank you Natalie

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brutally and beautifully written.

Stunning story about the women and goddesses surrounding the Trojan war. Reimagined Greek myths from the female perspective is always going to pique my interest and this did not disappoint. Having the author narrate the book was also a wonderful addition.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Informative

I thoroughly enjoyed this offering from Natalie Haynes
Kept me captivated for 2 days. Couldn’t stop listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Simply perfect!

This brilliant story brings to life so many tales of the lessor told tales of Troy. Witty, funny, clever, and beautifully told characters with vibrant personalities. Natalie, if you happen to read this review, thank you for giving Penelope the agency we have always been told she had. I couldn’t recommend this book enough. If you love Greek Myth but want more substance, more feeling and for someone else to question “Odysseus! Seriously! What are you doing?” Then you are in the right place.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

an excellent story

Glad I bought this as an audio book otherwise I would have read the weekend away. Could not stop listening to it beautifully read with stories I very much wanted to hear.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Loved every minute, particularly the chapter where the 3 goddesses vie for the golden apple. He wouldn’t get my owl either

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Fell in love with Natalie’s story, wit and voice! A superb story around the women of Troy woven into an original tale. Loved it and can’t wait to read more of Natalie’s work. Am now a fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.